26th September 2005

Help wanted for wildflower rescue

Volunteers are being invited to join the first volunteer work party at Snaky Lane – a seven-acre site in Ash Vale bordered by Stratford Road and Meadow Close – for a wildflower rescue on Sunday 2nd October. The site currently includes grassland, hedges, trees and a pond, but it is very overgrown. The work planned for Sunday includes cutting and raking
the meadow to make it easier to walk across and to encourage the wildflowers to grow, so the more people who turn up the greater the area that can be cut and cleared.

Last month Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership (BVCP) held an open day at the site to try and re-launch the Snaky Lane Community Wildlife Group, which was first established in the 1990s. A steady stream of people turned up on the day and this positive response, coupled with a good feedback from a questionnaire issued to residents to find out how they use the site, has shown that there is enough support to re-establish the community group.

Keith Boulnois, who led the original group in the 1990s said: “I was delighted that so many people came along to the open day and care about the site and are prepared to get involved.”

It is hoped that the group will meet on a regular basis to cut the grass, clear the overgrown scrub and bramble and maintain a footpath around the site.

Anyone who is interested can come along to help at the site on Sunday 2nd October at 10.30am, no special skills are needed as tools and training are provided. Just wear suitable outdoor clothing, boots or wellies and waterproofs. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more details ring Sue Dent at Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership on 01252 331353.

END

For further information please contact:
Christine Reeves, Visitor Promotions Officer on (01252) 331353

Did you know?

The area known as Snaky Lane was once the property of the Abbot of Chertsey Abbey when he was the Lord of the Manor of Ash. He was given the land in 1323 by a William Souter.
By 1871 the area had been incorporated into Lynchford Castle Farm which covered a total of 70 acres and belonged to a James Nash.
The road through Mr. Nash’s farm was named as Stratford Road in a list prepared for Ash Parish Council in 1907 although it was widely known as Snaky Lane, although we do not know why.
The site is now owned by Guildford Borough Council.